Hi there. Feeling the strain!

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Bloden

Bloden

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Relationship to Diabetes
Type 1
I've had Type 1 for 5 years now. I was diagnosed aged 41. First three years, I was a good girl. Last two years, really struggling with glucose control. HbA1c 9.0 in August. Not good!!:( Went to my GP today, cos I'm close to tears all the time recently, and I wanted to ask for some emotional support. There isn't any apparently. I don't think she realised how difficult it was for me to ask for help - too proud by far! I was furious when I came out. Don't want to end up depressed, or with diabetic complications. At least she was honest, I suppose - now I feel COMPLETELY isolated! Help!!!😱
 
Hi Bloden, welcome to the forum 🙂 No need to feel isolated any more - the lady who started this forum (around the time you were diagnosed) did it precisely because she was feeling isolated Having had Type 1 for over 35 years she didn't know any other Type 1s!

I've been diagnosed for 5 years also. It can get you down at times, and of course the evil thing is that running high levels will also mess with your moods and make you feel even worse :( There are lots of lovely, freindly people here who can appreciate just how you are feeling, so please feel free to join in wherever you wish. What insulin regime are you on? Have you been on a diabetes education course, like DAFNE? What advice have you been given to try and get your levels down?
 
Hi and welcome to the forum 🙂

Sorry to hear you've been feeling down. Managing diabetes is a relentless task, and there are no prizes for getting BGs in target range, however there are dire consequences when they're not, so it's not surprising that many people with diabetes (and parents of kids with D) experience "diabetes burnout" from time to time, and can really feel quite depressed.

You need to be kind to yourself. Try not to look at your Hba1c or BG levels as "bad" - they are just data to be used! I would highly recommend you buy and read "Type 1 diabetes in children, adolescents and young people" by Ragnar Hanas (don't be put off by the title - it's equally valid for all ages). The book is so helpful at motivating you to get back into control again and put the diabetes back in its place, and has lots of practical advice (I found it much more use than my son's old hospital team!).

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Type-1-Diab...8&qid=1381751779&sr=8-1&keywords=ragnar+hanas

I sympathise with you re the GP's unhelpful response. I'm the same age as you and it seems whenever I go to the GP they just want to dish out antidepressants instead of just listen! I do find it really helps to talk to others in the same boat (e.g. this forum). Have you done a DAFNE course? You would meet some fellow type 1's as well as learning more about carb counting and dose adjustment if you haven't already. 🙂
 
Hi Bloden and welcome to the forum 🙂
Sorry to hear that you've been having a hard time recently and that your GP hasnt been so helpful. The good news is that you've come to the right place for support, so please feel free to vent / ask any questions you may have.
Diabetes is not easy, so try not to be too hard on yourself 🙂. It never leaves you and I think thats why we ALL experience 'burn out' at some stage. How about setting yourself some small goals, for this week ? (eg keeping a food diary, recording your BGs etc.).
Be kind to yourself - and remember it not an easy condition to have to live with ! 😉
 
Just to extend a warm welcome Bloden.

You've come to the right place - I hope you will find this forum as helpful as I have done, in a very short time.

Lots to take in but there is a wealth of information on here, shared by very supportive people.

HelenHanfe
 
Welcome to the forum Bloden 🙂
 
Hi, I'm sorry to hear you're struggling, it seems so wrong that there's no medical support for you, would the diabetes team not offer this? I know it's available for children with type 1. (I've just realised you're in Spain, sorry)

Perhaps as Cleo says with some small changes and improvements you will start to feel more in control and I'm sure with the support of the people on here you will get on top of it, stay strong.
 
Hiya (or Hola, LOL)

What insulins are you on at the moment, and do you carb count?
 
Wow, thanks.

Thanks for your responses, everyone. Looks like I've found what I was looking for - input from people who REALLY understand. I feel better already😛 and your advice has got me thinking positively for the first time in ages🙄
I'm on the basal-bolus regime (four injections a day), for those that wanted to know. No pump!
Cos I live in Spain, I don't think I'm eligible for a dafne course, but I'd like to do one. Does anyone know how to apply to do a course (and how much it costs!) if you aren't part of the National Health?
Ciao fnow X
 
Theres a couple of basic carb counting courses on the internet, a quick google search might yield some good results. Im sorry I cant remember the ones ive looked at previously!!

I think this would be the way forward to you, instead of set amounts, learn to dose adjust so you can as close as possible match your insulin to your food intake.

Just found one of the links in my emails -

http://www.bdec-e-learning.com/ I think I used this... Might be worth a look.

My plan would be..

1) Learn how to count carbs and adjust my insulin to what I eat
2) Learn about how your basal insulin works and look at getting your dose amount correct and at the optimum time
3) Learn what your own ratios are at different times of day for your quick acting insulin
4) Look at how different foods impact on your blood sugars.

1 step at a time however!
 
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